Types of delinquent behaviour

Traditionally, delinquency meant offences such as truancy, assault, theft, arson, or vandalism. In recent decades more violent crimes by teens became more common, especially for those who traffic in drugs or are addicted and commit crimes to support their habits. Bigotry could be seen in teens of all races; one example is the rise of white-supremacist gangs called skinheads.

Gangs and group crime

The cliché that "birds of a feather flock together" has special relevance for the social situation of delinquents. Alienated from society, they tend to form groups. Although non-delinquent teenagers also form gangs, delinquents are far likelier to do so. They are impelled by the need to belong and are drawn by the sense of security that a gang offers its members. In belonging to a gang there is a solidarity that an individual fails to find as a loner in society. Gang subculture has its own standards, obligations and rights. It may also have its own dress code.

Not all teens involved in a crime together are acting as a gang, however. In a well-publicized incident in 1989 a group of youths ages 14 to 16 raped and nearly murdered a young woman jogging in New York City's Central Park; they said they were "wilding," roaming the park with no purpose but to create havoc and hurt people. Many schools are no safer than the streets; by 1990 it was estimated that more than three million incidents of attempted street crime (assault, rape, robbery, or theft) occur in schools or on school property each year. As more students carry weapons, more schools have instituted tough security measures.

Society's response

Society tries to deal with youthful offenders in a variety of ways. The most common unofficial means are through school counselling and sessions with psychologists and psychiatrists. Social workers who deal with family problems also attempt to sort out the differences of young potential delinquents.

Serious offences are dealt with officially by the police and the courts. Because of the nature of some of the offences committed by juveniles, there has been a tendency to try them in court as adults for certain crimes, especially for murder. The juvenile courts attempt to steer young people away from a life of crime, though the most serious offences normally result in periods of confinement in juvenile halls or prisons for younger criminals. If possible, however, the courts try more lenient methods of probation, juvenile aftercare, or foster care.

Probation means that the court suspends sentence and releases the offender on the condition of good behaviour, subject to certain rules and under the supervision of the court. Probation is frequently granted to first-time offenders.

Sometimes in order to avoid bringing a case before the court, informal probation under the supervision of a probation officer is prescribed. Probation has proved to be the most successful way of dealing with very young offenders.

Juvenile aftercare is the equivalent of parole for an older criminal; it takes place after the young person has been released from an institution and is supervised by a youth counsellor. The purpose of aftercare is to promote readjustment to society.

In foster care the juvenile is placed in a stable family situation with the hope that he will adjust to the positive values of society. It is often part of an effort to prevent institutionalisation.

III. Answer the questions:

1. Name the reasons of juvenile delinquency in the USA, Japan and Europe in the early 1980-s.

2. What do parents and educators blame on in the juvenile delinquency?

3. Are the reasons of delinquency among tens from the poor society or from the middle-class families the same? What are they?

4. What is meant by delinquency?

5. Why do teenagers join gangs?

6. How does the society try to deal with young offenders?

7. What methods does the court use to steer teenagers away from a life of crime? Name them.

IV. Agree or disagree with the following statements:

1. In the USA, Europe and Japan most delinquents are girls.

2. Many parents, educators and others don’t blame for the juvenile delinquency anybody or anything.

3. Traditionally, delinquency meant offences such as truancy, assault, theft, arson, or vandalism.

4. Non-delinquent teenagers don’t form gangs.

5. Gang subculture doesn’t have their own standards, obligations and rights.

Many schools are not safer than the streets

TEENS' TIPS FOR PARENTS